To change glass in an aluminium window, remove the glazing beads or unscrew the frame sections holding the pane, lift out the old glass wearing cut-resistant gloves, clean the rebate, set the new unit on glazing packers with the gaskets in place, then refit the beads or screws. Order the new glass to the exact size and thickness of the old unit first. Breakages happen from time to time, and fixing them is often a job you can do yourself. Aluminium window frames can be removed and opened, and the glass can easily be replaced should something happen.
Smaller panes are a manageable DIY job if you order the replacement glass to the right size and follow a few simple steps, but large, heavy or upper-floor units are safer left to a glazier. In this article, we will tell you exactly how to change glass in aluminium windows.
What Do You Need to Change Glass in an Aluminium Window?
You need a replacement glass unit made to the exact size and thickness, heavy cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses, a screwdriver, a stiff putty knife or bead removal tool, glazing packers, a soft cloth and, depending on the window, new gaskets or silicone. Large double-glazed units need two people to lift safely.
Before getting started, there are a few things you will need to make the whole process run smoothly and be safe when doing this repair in your house.
Make sure that you have the following:
-
Heavy gloves
-
Replacement pane
-
Screwdriver
-
Cloth
All of our products at Aluminium Living are made from high-quality materials, but breakages can still happen. If you also want new doors to match your aluminium windows, take a look at our aluminium bifold doors and aluminium French doors.
Your doors and windows should be of the finest quality!
How Do You Change Glass in an Aluminium Window Step by Step?
Protect your hands and eyes, take the sash or fixed panel out, unscrew the inner and outer frame sections, remove the gasket and old glass, clean the seat, fit the gasket around the new pane and reassemble the frame in reverse, then refit the window. The steps below are for screw-together frames; modern bead-glazed windows are covered further down.
Replacing the glass in an aluminium window is a fairly straightforward job. Once you have all your tools and the right kit, you'll be able to tackle the job like a pro.
You may be wondering, what are aluminium windows? Well, they are durable, affordable, and easy to maintain. Even when things go wrong, the job is simple. This is how to remove glass from a window wall frame:
Step 1: Put On Cut-Resistant Gloves and Safety Glasses
Put on some heavy and thick, slash-proof gloves. Exercise extra caution while handling any broken glass fragments that have fallen off the window assembly since they can be very sharp. Broken glass can cause some serious injuries that you'd much rather avoid.
Step 2: Remove the Window Assembly
The window assembly should be taken out of the wall frame when working on aluminium windows. If the window that needs replacing is a fixed pane, you will need to look for any screws hidden by the plugs so that you can pull them away with your screwdriver.
Remove all of the screws until the window assembly becomes loose enough for you to remove it. If the window needs to be replaced and it is a sliding window, lift it up from the bottom until you can detach the bottom part of the window frame from the track.
Remove the screws attaching the opening mechanism to the actual window frame if the window is a hinged kind.
Step 3: Unscrew the Frame Sections
The screws keeping the aluminium frame together should be removed. Glass panes are sandwiched between an inside and an exterior frame section in aluminium frames. The screws holding the two pieces of the frame together should be loosened and removed. You should now be able to see the rubber gasket that encircled the glass pane.
Step 4: Remove and Clean the Gasket
Carefully remove the rubber gasket as you are going to reuse it. After removing the rubber gasket carefully, grab a damp cloth and wipe it around the whole seat where the glass was initially installed to get rid of any small pieces of glass and any dirt or dust.
Then put the rubber gasket all around the replacement pane of glass so that it runs along the outside of all of the edges.
Step 5: Fit the New Glass and Reassemble
In the frame where the previous old broken pane of glass was located, insert the replacement pane of glass. After tightening all of the screws to hold the glass in place, reassemble the frame in reverse order from how you disassembled it. There is no need for silicone or any other sealant due to the rubber gasket.
Step 6: Refit the Window Assembly
Finally, install the entire window assembly back into the wall frame. Put all of the screws back into their same holes to make sure that the fit is secure and perfect.
How Do You Change Glass in Other Types of Aluminium Window?
The method depends on how the glass is held: most modern windows use clip-in glazing beads, older frames screw together around the glass, and some sliding sashes are bonded with silicone. Identify which type you have before you start.
The method of changing the glass for aluminium windows differs depending on the type of window you have.
How Do You Replace Glass Held by Glazing Beads?
Most modern aluminium windows hold the sealed unit in place with clip-in glazing beads. Ease a stiff putty knife into the joint and lever each bead out, starting with the longest; lift out the old unit, refit it on new glazing packers at the bottom, then tap the beads back in.
- Open the sash (or work from inside on internally beaded windows) and identify the beads around the glass.
- Lever out the long beads first, then the short ones, keeping them in order so they go back in the same place.
- Lift out the old unit with suction lifters or gloved hands, noting the position of the packers beneath it.
- Clean the rebate, place new packers, and set the replacement unit in centrally.
- Clip the beads back in, short ones first, and check the gaskets sit tight against the glass.
A misted or failed unit is a common reason to replace the glass; see our guide to condensation on aluminium window frames to tell the difference between internal condensation and a failed seal. The same bead method applies to many patio doors; see how to remove glass from sliding patio doors.
How Do You Change Glass in a Sliding Aluminium Window?
Lift the sliding sash out of its track, lay it flat, unscrew and separate the frame sections, then remove the old glass and its rubber glazing gasket. Fit the gasket to the new pane, slot it back into the frame, re-screw the corners and refit the sash. The steps below cover each stage.
Remove The Sash Stop (If there is one)
Although it might appear tough to take out the glass from a sliding window, that's not always the case. The first step is to take out the sash stop because sliding windows have them in the corners of the windows. This will enable the sash to rise, allowing you to remove the glass pane.
Take out the glass window pane
Aluminium sliding windows require the removal of the window in order to replace a glass pane. After removing the sash, use a scraper to pry the glass pane off the aluminium frame.
Be sure to do this very carefully to avoid damaging the frame. Once the frame has been removed, be sure to remove all of the excess silicone so that you can get the old broken pane of glass out.
Place the New Glass Pane
You must measure the new window's size, just like you would with other varieties of aluminium windows. Once it is prepared, use silicone to reattach the clean and new glass pane in the same location as before.
Add a bit more silicone and then put all of the pieces of the aluminium frame back together. You will not need to use strips, screws, or anything else since the silicone can hold everything together. Once you have done everything, put the window back in its original place and set the sash stop up again.
How Do You Replace Glass in a Screw-Together Frame?
Continue reading if you need to understand how to replace a window pane in a metal frame held together by screws.
Remove the window assembly
Wearing protective gloves will let you remove as many big shards of glass as you can before removing the window assembly.
You'll need a screwdriver to remove the screws that are typically covered by plugs because aluminium frames come with fixed panes which are tightened by them. To make it simple to remove, the screws must be sufficiently loosened.
Disassemble the Frame
Remove the screws after they have been loosened. You must remove the screws keeping the two frame components together because aluminium frames push the glass between the outside and inside sections of the frame.
Once you've done that, the glass is typically surrounded by a rubber gasket. In order to reuse it, try to remove it carefully. You can dampen a towel and rub it over the surface where the glass pane was to get rid of small fragments of glass. After finishing this part, measure your new glass pane and order/purchase it.
Set the new glass pane up
The replacement glass pane should then be gently inserted into the frame once the rubber gasket has been placed around it. Reassemble it in reverse to how you disassembled it: tighten the screws to secure the glass pane, then put it back into the window. Reinstall the remaining screws to provide further support.
How Do You Replace Glass in a Frame With Strips?
Prise out the glazing strips (beads) from the inside, cut through any old sealant, lift the old glass out on its packers, then set the new pane on fresh packers, refit the strips and seal the edges. Work from the inside wherever possible, and wear gloves and eye protection.
Remove the old glass from the frame
First, you will need to remove the old glass so that you can replace the window pane in the metal frame. Be sure to wear protective gloves and remove the glass very carefully.
You might struggle to pull the glass out due to the silicone, so it might be best to break it all down into little pieces or remove all of the silicone first to make it easier. You will need to make use of your screwdriver to remove the strips of silicone. Be cautious. You want to avoid getting hurt and cut.
Measure the Size of the Glass
You then need to start measuring. You need to do this carefully to avoid getting a replacement pane that is either too big or too small. You need to measure the height from the right and left sides and the middle in the smallest measurements that you have.
Then measure the width at the top, middle and bottom, and the thickness of the old unit (commonly 24mm or 28mm for double glazing). If you are measuring the frame opening rather than the old glass, deduct around 3mm to 5mm from each dimension for clearance, and check the diagonals to confirm the opening is square before ordering.
Set up the new glass panes and the strips
Other than the glass, you will also need new strips. Once you have your strips and the new window glass, you can connect everything together. Be sure to keep adding the silicone, as it will help the strip and the glass stick to one another. Finally, slide your finished product back into the aluminium frame.
Aluminium Window Glass Replacement FAQs
Is it cheaper to replace a window or the glass?
It is much cheaper to replace the glass. You could pay up to 50% more by purchasing a whole new window. If your window frame and all other parts are still in good condition, then rather opt to change the glass. It is also a fairly easy job.
How do you get glass out of the aluminium frame?
The glass, a silicone seal, and the four aluminium parts that make up the window frame are typically all separate elements in produced aluminium frame windows. The parts of the frame are held together by four screws at every corner. To detach the glass pane from the window frame, locate and remove these screws.
How much does it cost to replace glass in a window?
Replacing a standard-size double-glazed unit typically costs around £100 to £300 supplied and fitted, with large, toughened, laminated or specialist glass costing more. Doing it yourself saves the labour, but you still need the unit made to measure, so get accurate sizes first.
Can you replace just the glass in a double glazed aluminium window?
Yes. If the frame is sound, only the sealed glass unit needs replacing, which is far cheaper than a new window. It is also a chance to upgrade to a better-performing unit; our guide to retrofitting double glazing in aluminium windows explains the options for older frames.
Does replacement window glass need to be toughened?
Under UK Building Regulations, safety glass is required in critical locations, such as glazing in doors and side panels and low-level glass in windows close to the floor. If the pane you are replacing is in one of these areas, order toughened or laminated glass, which carries a kitemark in the corner.
